The Kids are All Right

Talent and youth drive indie-pop band Charlie Belle

By Julia Miller

Published: January 5, 2015

You’d think that being interviewed by Amy Poehler for her online series Smart Girls at the Party and performing at South by Southwest in March would be exciting for the young members of Charlie Belle. But 16-year-old singer and guitarist Jendayi Bonds (pictured, center) has other priorities, such as getting her driver’s license. “I’m not going to downplay it,” she says. “It’s so much more freedom, and you get to stay out later.”

When talking to the members of this promising trio—made up of Bonds, her 14-year-old brother and drummer/vocalist, Gyasi (left), and 14-year-old bassist Zoe Czarnecki—hints of adolescence are sprinkled throughout the conversation. Comments about feeling nervous around crushes and stressing over homework are refreshing coming from a band that plays it cool about being lauded by the likes of Nylonand USA Today. Still, their maturity shines through in their work ethic and songwriting skills, which can be heard on their debut EP, Get To Know, out this month. Full of breezy, toe-tapping pop tunes, it’s an impressive introduction to a group that sometimes feels conflicted about the teen band thing. “I don’t feel like an adult or a kid, but I can definitely tell whether people are regarding us as musicians or kids,” Czarnecki says.

Put the novelty of youth aside, and it’s clear these are musicians dedicated to their craft. Having formed as a band in 2012, they talk about performing and songwriting as easily as they do about Ultimate Frisbee practice. Youth does serve Charlie Belle in one major way: a lack of cynicism. “Music is definitely one of the most important things I have in my life. Playing it, writing it, listening to it, all of that feels great,” Jendayi says. “You get to create things you like to listen to, and I don’t think there’s anything else that can top that.”